Trinity Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Traffic accidents are terrifying when you are in a vehicle, but they are life-threatening disasters that can cause you pain and change your life forever when you are a pedestrian.

Pedestrian accidents are not nearly as common as accidents between vehicles. Still, the impacts on the victims of these collisions can be far more devastating and are more likely to end in death than any other traffic accident.

If you are a pedestrian crash victim, you may be eligible for compensation under the law from the driver that hit you. A Trinity pedestrian accident lawyer will help you understand your potential right to compensation and how you can fight for that compensation following an injury. Call a seasoned personal injury attorney at our firm today to get started on your claim.

Involved in a Traffic Accident as a Pedestrian—Contact Perenich Law Injury Attorneys

Our team of pedestrian injury lawyers at Perenich Law Injury Attorneys wants to help the people in our Trinity community who suffer due to motor vehicle drivers’ negligence. A pedestrian is no match for an automobile. When an accident happens, you will likely face astronomical medical bills, painful recovery, and other challenges that will put a strain on your life and your family.

We understand the difficulties you must deal with and want to help you. We will discuss your case and represent your interests against the parties responsible. Insurance companies and at-fault parties will try to maneuver their way into the most advantageous position possible after a crash to protect themselves from paying costly damages to victims.

At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, we will take these defendants on and fight them for the compensation they need and deserve after a pedestrian accident.

Your Risk of a Pedestrian Accident in Trinity

Pedestrians traveling along roads in cities and neighborhoods are part of the Trinity way of life. While walking may not be the most popular form of transportation, many people may choose to get around either because of preferences or economic reasons.

Unfortunately, those traveling as pedestrians near roadways, on sidewalks, or dedicated paths can still be at risk of injury from a traffic accident. The CDC estimates that across the U.S., accidents will kill nearly 6,000 pedestrians in one year. Over 130,000 additional victims will sustain injuries that require emergency room treatment because of a pedestrian traffic incident.

Certain factors can increase the risk of an individual’s involvement in a pedestrian accident.

Factors that can increase the risk of a pedestrian accident in a particular location can include:

• Nighttime hours
• Urban roads versus rural roads
• Being elderly or a child
• Poor visibility
• Lack of crosswalks

What Is the Cause of Pedestrian Accidents in Our Community?

In Trinity and other areas in Florida, pedestrian accidents are a severe cause of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the members of the community. Florida continues to rank as one of the most dangerous states in the country for pedestrians, with higher deaths and incidents recorded year after year. We often turn on the news and hear of a recent death or incident referencing a vehicle striking a pedestrian in Trinity or Pasco County.

The drivers behind the wheel are the underlying cause of many pedestrian accidents. As a pedestrian, you are at the mercy of those driving on the road. When you cross an intersection at a crosswalk, are traveling on the sidewalk, or take a walk in your neighborhood, you are entrusting that the drivers around you will see you and follow the road rules.

Sadly, not all drivers are careful, and not all drivers will uphold their duty of care to those around them when operating a motor vehicle. Negligence is to blame in nearly all pedestrian traffic accidents. The negligence of the vehicle driver is more often than not the primary cause of the pedestrian’s accident and injuries.

Negligent driver behaviors that are commonly the cause of pedestrian accidents in Trinity include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Speeding
• Breaking traffic laws and not following traffic signs

The People Most at Risk of Suffering Life-Threatening Injuries in a Pedestrian Accident

The elderly and children are two groups that face the highest risk of involvement in a pedestrian accident and subsequently of dying from their injuries in one. Both the elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to pedestrian accidents because of their delayed motor skills and slower judgment when crossing an intersection or stepping into the road.

The physical attributes of children make them more likely to suffer devastating injuries. Combined with their lower weight and overall size, their shorter height leads them to suffer injuries to the most dangerous areas of the body if hit by a vehicle. In comparison, an adult that stands across a vehicle of average size is likely to suffer leg injuries. In contrast, a child will likely suffer injuries to the torso, head, neck, and spine.

Older adults are more vulnerable to serious injuries in pedestrian accidents because of their advanced age and more frail state. An older adult may not have the same reaction times and ability to maneuver away from danger as a younger person. The elderly population ranging from ages 65 and above accounts for 10 percent of all pedestrian traffic injuries and over 20 percent of overall deaths.

Most Common Injuries to Pedestrian Victims

Pedestrian accidents cause serious or life-threatening injuries. Fatal injuries are common, and those that survive a pedestrian collision with a vehicle can face long-term disabilities because of the accident.

The force of a crash between a motor vehicle and an individual traveling by foot can be catastrophic. Accidents at even slower speeds can cause permanent damage or death due to the sheer weight of a vehicle striking a person’s body. High-speed accidents with pedestrians or pedestrians involving large trucks or SUVs often end in fatalities.

The vehicle’s impact can throw pedestrians into nearby structures or the pavement by the momentum and force of the crash, which can lead to additional injuries or exacerbate the injuries in the initial impact. Another common danger of a pedestrian accident is a second vehicle striking the victim when they fall into oncoming traffic.

Injuries to pedestrian victims can include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Other head, neck, or back injuries
• Internal injuries to organs
• Broken bones
• Loss of limbs or amputation
• Road rash

Your Rights to Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident Due to Driver Negligence

When a victim suffers injuries, losses, and harm from the actions of another party such as a negligent driver, the law entitles them to seek justice through the payment of compensation for their damages. Damages in a pedestrian accident will look differently for each victim. Costs, expenses, and the estimate of your losses will depend on the type of injury you sustain, how you heal, and the long-term prognosis of your injuries.

An experienced Trinity pedestrian accident attorney is the best way for you to get an estimation of the extent of your losses. A lawyer will calculate the damages to you in each category of loss and help you to estimate any future impacts and expenses that may arise due to your injuries. Your lawyer will be thorough and will gather the support necessary to prove the damages you claim as part of an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the parties at fault.

Damages for a pedestrian accident victim can include compensation for:

• Medical treatment and care
• Current and/or future loss of income depending on your injuries
• Pain and suffering for the accident, injuries and inclusive of mental and emotional distress
• Personal property damage
• Wrongful death compensation in the case where a victim does not survive their injuries

Liability for Pedestrian Traffic Accidents

Determination of fault for a pedestrian traffic accident is when an insurer or the court will look at the evidence and facts of the case to determine whose actions were negligent and caused the accident and subsequent injuries to the victim.

Fault can fall on one party or multiple parties depending on what the individual driving did at the time of the accident. Commercial vehicles such as government vehicles, trucks, rideshare drivers, and other vehicles working at the time of the incident can create an additional liability against the company or owner of the vehicle.

Fault determinations are an important step in a pedestrian accident case because they help victims determine who they can seek compensation from through insurance coverage if available or personally if allowable under the law. Pedestrian accident attorneys know the complexities that can arise in an accident, the uniqueness of a pedestrian accident, and additional factors that may contribute to a victim’s injuries.

Parties that can be liable to a pedestrian victim after a crash in Trinity include:

• The automobile driver
• The owner of the vehicle
• A business or organization that owns the vehicle or manages the party at-fault
• A rideshare company

Can You Seek Justice If Your Loved One Dies in a Pedestrian Accident?

If a pedestrian victim dies because of their injuries in an accident, certain family members might file a claim or sue for compensation under Florida’s wrongful death laws. Wrongful death is any death attributed to negligence or intentional acts of an individual. If the motor vehicle driver in a pedestrian accident with your loved one is to blame for their death, they are likely negligent in the eyes of the law.

While there is no way to compensate you for the unimaginable loss of a loved one in a Trinity pedestrian accident, there is a way to seek justice against the individual or party responsible. The family of a wrongful death victim can seek compensation for certain wrongful death damages in the case of the death of a loved one in a pedestrian crash with a motor vehicle. You may be able to recover costs for the funeral and burial of your loved one, the loss of contribution of your loved one to the family unit, and other damages.

Should You Hire a Trinity Pedestrian Accident Attorney to Help You with Your Case?

At the top of your list of questions after a pedestrian accident is whether you need or should hire a lawyer. Luckily for you, this is an easy question to answer: Yes.

There is no circumstance in which you are better off without a lawyer when you suffer injuries from a negligent driver in a pedestrian accident. There is too much at stake for you to attempt to resolve without a lawyer. If you do not have an attorney, insurers and at-fault parties can take advantage of your lack of knowledge to reduce the compensation they offer you, or they may decide to deny your claim altogether. It is not worth the risk of complications to your case, delays, and potential loss of compensation to go ahead without a lawyer.

After a pedestrian accident, contact Perenich Law Injury Attorneys for a free case consultation. You will be able to sit with a Trinity pedestrian accident lawyer and discuss your case to learn about your options to recover compensation and your likelihood of success.

We know that pedestrian accidents sometimes take place on holidays, weekends, or at night, so we are a 24/7/356 law firm. You can reach us at any time. Call now.